The cops are reluctant to talk about it. City officials flatly refuse. Who pushed the "mute" button on the most explosive affirmative-action lawsuit Minneapolis has seen in decades?

Interns Claire Adamsick and Chris Jones contributed research to this story.

Jonathan Weiner

Correction published 2/2/2000:This story contained two reporting errors: Minneapolis Police Federation president Al Berryman is currently assigned to the Child Abuse Unit, not Sex Crimes; and Black Police Officers Association vice president Charlie Adams holds the rank of patrol officer, not sergeant. The story reflects the corrected text.

Additionally, the comment that was attributed to Deputy Chief Gregory Hestness of the Minneapolis Police Department failed to note that the source of the statement was the Star Tribune, not Hestness himself. (Hestness denies having made the comment.) City Pages regrets the errors.